Safety receptacle or container for inflammable materials



JZG. CLARK Aug. 30, 1932.

SAFETY RECEPTACLE OR CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS Filed Jan. 21,19:51v v2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 0 o o Yb b o 0071 INVENTOR Jhmes G. C'la r'lITNESSE'S ATTOR N EY5 Aug. 30, 1932. CLARK 1,874,243

SAFETY REcEPTALE 0R CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS F iled Jan. 21,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 INVENTOR James G. Clark Patented Aug. 30, 1932UNITED STATES JAMES G. CLARK, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SAFETY RECEPTACLE onCONTAINER non INFLAMMABIJEMATERIALS Application filed January 21, 1931.Serial No. 510,261.

This invention relates generally to the classes of receptacles orcontainers, and has reference to those which are particularly designedfor accommodating highly inflammable materials.

Waste cans or storage receptacles which are adapted to receive orcontain highly inflammable materials and which are commonly used infactories handling this class of materials, or in garages where oily.rags are collected or in other analogous places, present a considerablefire hazard, due to the possibility of ignition of said materials byspontaneous combustion or otherwise. The com- -1non practice resorted tofor safeguarding such containers or receptacles, depends largely uponthe use of fire extinguishers which are manually brought into play afterthe fire has started and is discovered. This is obzo viously aninadequate protection unless the flre is immediately discovered andbrought under control, which would be impossible unless there is someoneconstantly on guard,

which is generally not the case after working hours, and notinfrequently not true during said. working hours.

It is, therefore, the aim of the present invention to provide areceptacle or container for the purpose set forth which is equipped withmeans which automatically functions to extinguish a fire occurringwithin the receptacle, and which means more particularly in the presentinstance constitutes a component part of the container or receptaclestructure. f

The invention further comprehends a device of the indicated characterwhich embodies a receptaclefor inflammable material,

together with a reservoir having communicaltion with the receptacle andan extinguishing medium in said reservoir, in addition to a substancewhich is adapted, when combined with said medium, to effect the deliveryof the medium from the reservoir to the receptacle, and also means,responsive to a predeter mined degree of heat within the receptacle, forcausing said substance to combine with said extinguishing medium for theobvious purpose in view.

so More particularly, the invention resides in partment and a fluidextinguishing medium the provision of a receptacle or container of thecharacter set forth having a compartment for inflammable materials,together with a reservoir in communication with said comin saidreservoir which inherently seals the reservoir from the receivingcompartment, andin which is a substance which is adapted, when combinedwith the fluid extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within thechamber above the level of the extinguishing medium for forciblydelivering the same into the receiving compartment, in addition tomeans, responsive toa predetermined degree of heat in the receivingcompartment, for causing said substance to combine with said medium forthe purpose set forth.

' The invention further resides in the provision of a device of theindicated character which is comparatively simple in its construction,inexpensive to produce and maintain in working condition, positive andreliable in action and highly eflicient for the purpose for which it isintended.

With theabove recited and other objects in view, reference is had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which there isexhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claimsdefine the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a receptacle or containerconstructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the fireextinguishing means in its normal inactive condition.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the receptacle or container with the coverremoved and with parts broken away and in section to disclose theunderlying structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenapproximately on the sectional line indicated at 33 in Figure 2, andillustrating the fire extinguishing means actively functioning IReferring'to thedrawings by characters of reference, the form of theinvention employed for the purposes of illustration includes a main bodydesignated generally by the reference character A, which body comprisesa bot- 100 tom 5, in the present instance disclosed as circular,although it may be of various other shapes. The body further comprisesan upstanding marginal, and in the present instance cylindrical, wall 6,and a removable or displaceable cover 7 as disclosed in Figures 1 and 3,may be employed for closing the upper open end of the body A.

As illustrated in the present instance, the body is subdivided into areceiving compartment designated generally by the reference character Band a chamber or reservoir designated generally by the referencecharacter C,

by means of a tubular, and in the present instance annular, wall 8 whichis sealed at its structure for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.A horizontal continuous partition 9 is sealed to and extends outwardlyfrom the upper edge of the wall 8 and has its outer edge or peripherysealed to the wall 6 of the body A, thereby defining a closed upper endfor the reservoir or chamber C. A continuous, in the present instanceannular, baffle wall 10 is sealed at its upper end to the lower surfaceof the partition wall 9 and-depends therefrom downwardly, where itslower edge 11 is disposed in a plane slightly above the bottom 5 todefine an outlet 11a adjacent the bottom of the reservoir C. The bafflewall 10 is arranged concentric to the wall 8 and in spaced relation toand between the walls 6 and 8. Communication between the receivingcompartment B and the reservoir or chamber C is established, as shown inthe present instance, through an annular series of radial apertures 12extending completely around the wall 8 adjacent the upper end of hereceiving compartment B and through the annular duct 12a defined betweenthe baffle wall 10 and the wall 8 and extending from the reservoiroutlet to the apertures 12.

The invention further embodies the use of an extinguishing medium D,which in th present instance is disclosed as a liquid solutionconsisting of water having bicarbonate of soda dissolved therein andfilling the res ervoir or chamber C and duct 12a to the approximatelevel indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, which must not exceed ahorizontal plane below the openings 12. It should be here mentioned thatthe reservoir or chamber C has a cubical content sufliciently greaterthan the cubical content of the reciving compartment B, which insuresthat the volume of .i the medium D within the reservoir will, when fullydelivered thereto, completely fill the receiving compartment B. In orderto afford means for conveniently introducing the medium or solution B tothe reservoir or chamber C, a filling nozzle 13 is formed on thehorizontal partition wall 9 and projects upwardly therefrom to receivethereover a closure cap 14.

While the invention broadly comprehends any means for effecting thedelivery of the extinguishing medium to the receiving compartment B fromthe reservoir or chamber C in which said means is responsive to apredetermined degree of heat developed within the receiving compartment,the particular form selected for the purpose of illustration consists inmaking use of a suitable substance E which is adapted, when combinedwith the extinguishing medium D, to generate a pressure within thereservoir or chamber C above the level of the extinguishing medium,which pressure is sufficient to force said medium from the reservoirthrough the outlet 11a upwardly through the duct 12a and thence throughthe openings 12 until the seal which is inherently formed by virtue ofthe medium and the baffle wall 10 is broken. In the present instance,the substance E, which for the purposes of illustration consists ofsulphuric acid in commercial form No. 60, is contained within acontainer 15, which container is located within a housing 16, whichhousing is in part disclosed as forming an upwardly offset portion ofthe horizontal partition wall 9 at a point adjacent the widest portionof the reservoir or chamber C. The remainder of the housing 16 isdefined by the wall 6 of the body A, and the housing is directly open tothe interior of the reservoir or compartment C. As shown, the container15 is fulcrumcd adjacent one lower side edge on a transverse shaft 17which is journaled in the housing and has one extremity extendingthrough a stufiing box 18 and projecting from the housing. The containeris provided with a discharge outlet 19 preferably in the form of a slotextending throughout the width of the container at the corner edgediagonally opposite the fulcrumed edge. The arrangement thus describedis such that the container 15, unless constrained normally, gravitatesto a discharge position, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings,where its outlet will be so disposed as to insure the spillage ofpractica1- ly its entire contents therefrom into the extinguishingmedium or solution D.

In order to hold the container 15 in a horizontal non-dumping positionwhere its contents are held against discharge, an arm 20 is secured tothe projecting extremity of the shaft 17 and extends radially therefromwhere the terminal of the arm projects inward beyond the inner peripheryof the wall 8, where it is anchored in a normal position to hold thecontainer horizontal by a fusible link 21, which has an apertured upperend 22 engaging over said arm extremity and an apertured lower end 23engaging over a stationary stud 24 projecting from the inner peripheryof the wall 8. i The container 15 is provided with a filling nozzle 25which, when i to shield the arm 20 so that the materials introduced tothe receiving compartment B are precluded from lodging on andinterfering with said arm.

In use and operation, assuming the receiver C and container 15 to becharged with their contents, as shown in Figure 1, it is apparent thatheat or a blaze developed within the receiving compartment B and ofsuflicient intensity, will fuse the-fusible link 21. This will instantlyrelease the arm20 and permit the container 15 by gravity to swing fromits normal horizontal position illustrated in Figure 1 to the verticalor dumping position illustrated in Figure 3, where the substance 1 Econtained therein will spill therefrom into the solution or medium D,thereby generating a pressure within the reservoir or compartment abovethe level of the solution or medium D suflicient to'exert the necessaryforce to deliver the extinguishing medium or solution D from saidreservoir, through the outlet 11a, the duct 12a and the openin s 12 andinto the receiving compartment I3 until the seal is broken by therecession of the solution level D below the lower edge 11 of the bafflewall 10. The pressure developed will be of sufficient force to cause theextinguishing medium D to be delivered through the openings 12 in theform of a plurality of radial jets which initially serve as a barrier tothe escape of a flame or blaze from the upper end of the receivingcompartment, in addition to cutting off the supply of oxygen necessaryto continue the combustion within the compartment B. The solution ormedium D will descend by gravity into and upon the material within thecompartment B and quench the fire After the extinguishing means hasfunc- Z tioned in the manner previously set forth, the

reservoir may be recharged with a new supply of extinguishing medium D,the container 15 refilled with the substance E and a new fusible linkengaged with the terminal of the arm v and the stud 24, whereby thedevice receptacle, closed at its upper end and is immediately incondition for further use.

It is, :of course, to be understood ithatto facilitate theremoval of thecontents of the receiving compartment B, a separate removable receptaclemaybe placed therein, suchu's a can, bag or the like. a While the deviceis especially useful in factories or plants as a receptacle for highlyinflammable refuse, such as gun cotton,-oelluloid or the like, and ingarages for receiving discardedloily rags,- it is to be clearlyunderstood that this is only one of ltheimapy uses to which theinvention maybe adapt and that it is also adaptable for useasac'ontainer for the storage of highlyin flammaible imaterials or in manyother analogous capacities.

Whle there has been illustrated and described a single and preferredembodiment the precise structural details therein exhibited, as it is tobe clearly understood that variations and modifications thereof whichproperly fall within the scope of the "appended claims may beresortedtowhen desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, areceptac-le for inflammable material, a reservoirsurrounding the receptacle, closed at its upper end and-having an outletat its lower end communicating with said receptacle at the upper end ofsaid receptacle, an extinguishing medium in said reservoir, a substancewhich is adapted, when combined with said medium, to e'flect thedelivery of the medium from the reservoir to the receptacle and means,responsive to a predetermined degree of heat within the receptacle, forcausingsaid substance to combine with said medium.

2. 'In combination, a receptacle for inflammablermaterial, a reservoirsurroundinglthe av ing an outlet at its lower end communicating withsaid receptacle at the upper end of said receptacle, a fluidextinguishing medium in said reservoir self sealed from the receptacle,a substance which is adapted, when combined with said medium, togenerate a pressure within the reservoir above the level of theextinguishing medium for forcibly delivering said medium into thereceptacle means, re-

sponsive to a predetermined degree of heat within the receptacle, forcausing saidsubstance to combine with said medium.

outlet at the lower end of the reservoir compartment afluidextinguishing medium with- .insaid reservoir compartment and the ductinherently functioning to seal vthe upper portion of the reservoircompartment above the level of the medium therein, a substance which isadapted, when combined with the fluid extinguishing medium, to generatea pressure within the reservoir compartment above the level-of theextingushing means, suificient to forcibly deliver said extinguishingmedium from-the reservoir compartment throughthe duct and to thereceiving compartment and means responsive to a predetermined degreeotheat within the receptacle, for causing said substance to combine withsaid medium.

4. A portable device of the class described having the combination of areceiver for inflammable material, a reservoir closed at its upper end,containing an extinguishing'medium and surrounding said receiver, anannular duct defined between the reservoir and receiver and establishingcircumferential communication between the reservoir at its lower end andthe receiver at its upper end and normally restrained means operable bya predetermined degree of heat within the receiver for effecting thedelivery or" said exrt-inguishing medium from said reservoir into saidreceptacle radially inward thereof.

5. In a receptacle for inflammable material, a body subdivided into areceiving compartment for said material and a reservoir adapted tocontain an extinguishing liquid, said compartment having communicationadjacent its upper end with the reservoir, a

baffle extending downwardly from the upper wall of the reservoirandspaced from the receiving compartment and from the bottom of thereservoir and defining an annular duct whereby the upper portion of thereservoir above the level or" the extinguishing medium is sealed by saidmedium, a container for a substance which is adapted, when combined withthe extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure in the sealed portionof the reservoir above the level of said medium for forcibly deliveringthe same from the reservoir through said duct and into the receivingcompartment, said contamer being arranged for discharge of its contentsinto the reservoir *and means, responsive to a predetermineddecommunicates with" the duct at its lower end whereby the upper portionof the reservoir compartment above the liquid level is sealed by saidliquid extinguishing means, a container for a substance which isadapted, when combined with said extinguishing medium, to generate apressure above the level of said medium "for forcibly delivering theliquid from the reservoir compartment through said duct, to thereceiving compartment, means for mounting the container within thereservoir compartment directly above the liquid level for ravitationaldumping discharge of its contents into said liquid and heat responsivemeans within the receiving compartment, for normally holding saidcontainer in a normal non-dumping position and for releasing saidcontainer for gravitational dumping discharge thereof when thetemperature in the receiving compartment reaches a predeterminedmaximum.

7. A device of the character described including a body having a bottomand an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arrangedwithin said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof andextending upwardly therefrom to a plane below the plane of the upperedge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed atits inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical-partition wall,extending outwardly therefrom and sealed at its outer edge to the outerwall of the body, whereby to define withinthe vertical partition wall, areceiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to definebetween the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body,the bottom and the horizontal partition wall, a reservoir compartmentextending completely around the receiving compartment, the said verticalpartition wall having a series of radially disposed openings extendingtherethrough adjacent the upper end thereof establishing communicationbetween the receiving and reservoir compartments, a continuous baiflewall surrounding the receiving compartment in closely spaced relationthereto, sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall,extending downwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spaced from thebot-tom wall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing mediumnormally contained in said reservoir compartment below the level of theradial openings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portionof the reservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishingmedium, a container for a substance which is adapted, when combined withsaid extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the upperportion of the reservoir compartment above the level of said medium, forforcibly delivering the liquid from the reservoir compartment throughsaid openings in the form of jets, said container being arranged fordischarge of its contents into the receiver compartment and means,responsive to a predetermined temperature within the receivingcompartment, for causing the discharge of the contents of said containerinto said receiver.

8. A device of the character described including a body having a bottomand an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arrangedwithin said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof andextending upwardly therefrom to a plane below the plane of the upperedge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed atits inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical partition wall,extending outwardly therefrom and sealedat its outer edge to the outerwall of the body, whereby to deline within the vertical partition wall,a receiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to definebetween the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body,the bottom and the horizontal partition wall, a reservoir compartmentextending completely around the receiving compartment, the said verticalpartition wall having a series of radially disposed openings extendingtherethrough adjacent the upper. end thereof establishing communicationbetween the receiving and reservoir compartments, a continuous bafliewall surrounding the receiving compartment in closely spaced relationthereto, sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall,extending downwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spaced from thebottom wall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing mediumnormally contained in said reservoir compartment below the level of theradial openings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portionof the reservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishingmedium, a container fulcrumed within the reservoir compartment above theliquid level, for containing a substance which is adapted, when combinedwith said extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within thereservoir compartment above the liquid level for forcibly delivering theliquid from the reservoir compartment to the receiving compartment, anarm attached to said container and projecting influidtight relationtherefrom inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the receivingcompartment and a fusible link locatedwithin the confines of thereceiving compartment, for normally anchoring said arm in a position tohold the container in a non-discharging position and adapted uponfusing, to release and permit of the dumping discharge of saidcontainer.

9. A device of the character described including a body having a bottomand an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arrangedwithin said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof andextending upwardly therefrom to a plane bea low the plane of the upperedge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed atits inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical partition wall,extending outwardly therefrom and sealed at its outer edge to the outerwall of the body, whereby to define within the vertical partition wall,a receiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to definebetween the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body,

partment in closely spaced relation thereto,

sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall, extendingdownwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spacedfrom the bottomwall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing medium normallycontained in said reservoir compartment below the level of the radialopenings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portion of thereservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishing medium,a container fulcrumed within the reservoir compartment above the liquidlevel, for containing a substance which is adapted, when combined withsaid extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the reservoircompartment above the liquid level for forcibly delivering the liquidfrom the reservoir compartment to the receiving compartment, an armattached to said container and projecting in fluid tight relationtherefrom inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the receivingcompartment and a fusible link located within the confines of thereceiving compartment, for normally anchoring said arm in a position tohold the container in a non-discharging position and adapted uponfusing, to release and permit of the dumping discharge of said containerand guard means located within said body for shielding said arm whilepermitting free movement thereof.

JAMES G. CLARK.

